ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Martin Andersen was searching for a church to join when he came across the website of Experience, a new congregation meeting in town. “There were lots of pictures of happy people, a calendar full of events, cool web features and audio,” he says. “I was impressed.”

But when Andersen visited Experience on Sunday morning, he was surprised to discover “eighteen people gathered in a public school gymnasium.”

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Ever since 81-year-old Mae Hodges bought a used Volvo, “strange-looking people” have been approaching her around town to pay compliments.

“They tell me, ‘Thank you for being a pioneer in our movement,’” Hodges says. “I have no idea what they mean.”

The flow of appreciation began after she started driving the nondescript Volvo wagon, which bears several bumper stickers. One sticker shows a multi-colored flag, another a pink equal sign, both of which Hodges found “very cheery.”

NEW CASTLE, Del. — Sam and Victoria Gutman have always been smart shoppers, but they have gone to another level during the recent recession, buying automobiles, computers and more from distressed owners. “God continues to bless us,” says Sam. “All things really do work for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. We’re living proof.”

Last week they bought a Lexus coupe from a man who lost his job — and pension — when his employer collapsed. “He was weeping when he gave me the keys,” Sam says. “I got that car for a third of what it’s worth. Beautiful leather seats, new tires. God is so good.”

LANSING — Templo Calvario, a Hispanic church which meets at First Lutheran Church, has outgrown its white host church and seized control of service times.
“We’re bigger, we’re more excited and we’re taking Sunday mornings,” said Fernando Gonzalez, the newly emboldened...

MANSFIELD, Ohio — Last week Molly Parker posted a stunning photo of a three-tier cake with elaborate icing decorations, along with the caption, “A little something I made for the fam in my free time …”
“It was so typical that I forgot to be annoyed,” says a friend who like others in their...

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Pastor Darren Parker of Covenant Church welcomed his second sermon illustration on Thursday, a baby girl named Allie May who weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz. and promises to provide years of funny anecdotes for her father’s weekly messages.
“I am so overjoyed at little Allie May’s arrival and...

CLEARWATER, Fla. — On their wedding night after Kayley Jurgensen rolled over and went to sleep, husband Jordy took to Facebook and wrote a detailed, glowing review of his first-time experience for his ministry buddies.
“I’m the first one of us to get married, so this is a big deal for all of us,”...

MERIDIAN, Idaho — Family Christian Center, a suburban church with stagnating attendance, decided to try a bold campaign to attract new members. They launched a mysterious “Find Me at Family” publicity push, buying billboards around town that advertise only the web address “findmeatfamily.org” in a...

SEATTLE — In an effort to broaden his ministry’s reach, evangelist Jeremy Balfour has started using filthy words he’d once banned from his vocabulary.
“I’ve been an evangelist for ten f***ing years and I’ve never felt such f***ing freedom,” he says during an...